| This is a photo of us at the the National BMW Owners of America 25th Anniversary Rally in Fredricksburg, Texas. The outfit is Vech's 1951 R51/3 and LS200 Steib sidecar. He rode it from Mississippi to Texas and won an award for oldest motorcycle ridden. The R51/3 and sidecar outfit really is a "Magic Carpet Ride." |  |
I drove my Lincoln Towncar to the rally. I didn't know what to expect from a bunch of bikers. Vech and I camped out. The BMW crowd was a friendly, well-behaved and upstanding group of people. I tagged along when Vech judged the vintage motorcycle competition. Each BMW was a historical masterpiece. I realized they are "art." I was hooked. I wanted to ride again! I wanted another motorcycle, but not just any motorcycle. I wanted a BMW--an OLD BMW!
Dreams come true.
My 1968 R50 is considered a "vintage BMW." Bavarian Motor Works produced 19,036 R50's between 1960 and 1969. The last year of production for R50's with an Earle's fork was 1968--and I own one!
 | Classic (1955-1969),
Vintage (1948-1954),
None produced (1945-1948),
World War II production (1940-1945),
Antique (1923-1940) |
This is a photograph of my 1968 BMW R50 as it appeared when I bought it.
 | It's
not
so
pretty,
huh? |  |
Don't worry. Vech and I plan to use it as the project bike while Vech writes a pre-1970 BMW motorcycle repair and restoration manual (book).
Oh, dear! It's been a million years since I rode a motorcycle, but I did get back in the saddle. Part of a story I wrote about overcoming fear is published in a book, The Tao of the Ride. I hope all you women riders will consider visiting me at the Annual Sturgis MISSISSIPPI All-bike rally and click the link to join the salute to Female Motorcyclists...
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